Most people who sign up for a camping holiday do so to experience life at a slower, more peaceful pace than normal. Going under canvas is still often much more affordable than many other holidays, easy to do and lets us explore the rolling hills, coastal spots and charming villages Britain has to offer. Successful camping relies strongly on civility though, with unspoken etiquette rules observed by those who do it… at least that’s the idea. ‘I’m on a tiny site in the middle of nowhere and last night a group of tents and a motorhome had a party until 1.30am,’ one camper recently fumed in a Facebook group. ‘Dogs loose and barking, shouting, driving around etc’. Suddenly sleeping under the stars can feel like you’ve pitched up in a party zone. It’s a situation many campers seem to relate to, with anecdotes about loud music and even the police being called all too common.’Growing up I remember there being an etiquette about quietening down once people start going to be but that seems have gone out the window with music blaring and little consideration for others,’ another wrote on Reddit. ‘Maybe people’s experience of camping is based on what they’ve seen at festivals now?’ From loud, late-night parties to dogs barking, plenty of campers have had their fair share of nightmare campsite neighbours One fan of camping described how they’d pitched up in Epping Forest only to be joined by two cars who hadn’t brought a tent and ‘sat there playing music and drinking/smoking until all hours’.They added: ‘About 3am someone from across the way started screaming at them and then drove their car fast at them.’ ‘That didn’t calm the situation down surprisingly. Police attended, apparently they do most weekends.’So, how can you make sure your own behaviour is in check when camping? Experts have revealed how to ensure your camping trip goes smoothly. Alice Pace, founder of slow-paced campsite Bert’s, in Wales, advises saying a friendly hello to neighbours early, something she says, ‘heads off most late-night friction before it starts’.If someone is being too rowdy Ms Pace says: ‘Have a polite word first. Calm, good-humoured, no lecture. It works far more often than people expect.’She recommends then reporting the incident to the campsite if a quick chat doesn’t work, urging campers not to ‘suffer in silence’.At Bert’s staff do a check at 11pm ‘to make sure everyone is settled down for the night’. Hassle is sometimes avoidable beforehand if you research and ‘book the right site,’ says Pace. She adds, ‘Family-friendly, adults-only and festival sites are different beasts. Check before you go.’ As depicted in Mike Leigh’s classic Nuts in May, you can’t choose your neighbours on a campsite (Keith Pratt, played by Roger Sloman, pictured having a fight on a campsite in the 1976 play) Fortunately, experts have lifted the lid on how to tackle pesky campers, as well as how to minimise your chance of pitching up next to themFor campers who feel unsure about the site because of rowdy neighbours, Ms Pace says to ‘Trust your gut on arrival’.She continues, ‘If the vibe’s off, ask to move if possible or ask about the noise policy; a good site will happily sort it. ‘We always do our best to accommodate pitch changes, but really if you have done your homework and booked the right campsite it should never be a problem.’Camping is a popular pastime in the UK, and The Great Britain Tourism Survey revealed a whopping 5.8million camping, glamping and touring trips were made in 2024, according to Campsites.co.uk.Tent holidays made up the bulk, accounting for two million trips.Mel Savage, head of underwriting operations at Ripe Motorhome Insurance, empathises with the issue and says, ‘Loud or inconsiderate neighbours can quickly turn what should be a relaxing holiday into a frustrating experience.’For campers who find themselves next to disruptive neighbours, the expert recommends gathering ‘as much information about the situation as possible’ before taking any further action. ‘Consider whether they are actually breaking campsite rules or whether it’s simply a minor annoyance,’ she adds. ‘Are they making excessive noise during quiet hours, holding rowdy parties, walking through your pitch or behaving unsafely?’Finding out who is actually involved with the disruption is vital too, ‘so you don’t wrongly accuse campers who have done nothing wrong’. Friendly interactions and a quick chat with the campsite owners can be a great way to make peace If you decide to try and handle the situation yourself and speak to the campers, Savage advises against ‘making passive aggressive comments’ and instead ‘approach the conversation politely and ask if they could stop whatever behaviour is causing the problem’. She says: ‘In many cases, campers enjoying themselves simply don’t realise they’re disturbing others or how easily sound travels outdoors. ‘A calm conversation may be enough to resolve the issue, whether that’s asking them to move further away from your pitch or lower the volume. You never know, introducing yourself politely could even result in making a new camping friend.’But sometimes speaking to campsite staff is the only way to resolve the issue, and asking to move to another pitch could help too. ‘If relocation isn’t an option and the situation continues, your choices are limited to trying to ignore the noise, using earplugs or, ultimately, leaving the site,’ Savage adds.There are some ways to try and avoid pesky campers when booking pitches.David Scotland, owner of camping equipment retailer Outdoor World Direct, recommends booking ‘through a reputable campsite booking provider such as campsites.co.uk or pitchup.com’.Opting for sites registered with the Camping and Caravanning Club is good too, as they ‘tend to be more professional and attract a more “serious camper” demographic as people have to pay a membership to book’, Mr Scotland adds. Unwritten campsite rules, by The Camping and Caravanning Club 1. Reduce your movement: Try to avoid driving your car around the site too much for things like taking rubbish to the bins, and be mindful of your speed when you do drive2. Don’t invade other pitches: Keep to paths and outside of pitch boundary lines when walking across the site3. Keep pets under control: Dogs should stay on a short leash and any excessive barking should be mitigated4. Be mindful of excess noise: Be mindful of quiet hours in the evening5. Keep it clean: Tidy up after yourself when using communal facilities on the site including the toilets, showers, chemical disposal point and dishwashing area6. Don’t be a current hog: Try not to use too many electrical appliances at once or you could risk tripping the circuit7. Have a sense of space: Keep within your pitch and follow the site’s guidelines for spacing8. Be friendly: Say hello and smile to your fellow campers9. Follow Leave No Trace principles: Don’t litter and take care of your pitch10. Be aware of the rules: Most sites will have a set of rules to follow and it’s best to familiarise yourself with them Source: The Camping and Caravanning Club